Response of Clarias gariepinus to Allium sativum-based diet on growth performance and Staphylococcus aureus challenge infection

The response of clarias gariepinus to allium sativum on growth performance and as anti-bacterial agent in staphylococcus aureus challenge infection was evaluated. a. sativum was included at 0% (control), 1.5%, 3.0%, and 4.5% in fish diet. twenty fish samples each were randomly distributed into four tanks (t1, t2, t3 and t4). fish were fed twice daily at 5% body weight for twelve weeks. all fish were challenged with 0.5ml of pure culture of s. aureus. a significant (p<0.05) increase in body weight, total length and standard length was observed. a. sativum at 3.0% inclusion promoted highest growth with feed conversion ratio (1.25-1.41), protein efficiency ratio (1.72-0.56), specific growth rate (1.92-2.09), condition factor (0.83-1.99) and survival rate (60- 95). fish-fed a. sativum diet showed that 4.5% inclusion had the least s. aureus activity. bacteria load significantly (p<0.05) decrease at week 12. culture water had dissolved oxygen of 4.0 - 4.2 mg/l, ph 6.0 - 7.0 and temperature of 26.0- 28.0◦c. this study has shown that a. sativum supplemented diets enhanced growth of c. gariepinus and functioned as antibacterial agent against s. aureus. a. sativum at 3.0% inclusion in diet is recommended for better fish growth and 4.5% a. sativum for antibacterial action.